Sears 449.320311 Care Of Your, Water Heater, Work The Temperature And Pressure Relief Valve

CARE OF YOUR

WORK THE TEMPERATURE AND

PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE

The relief valve, located on top of the water heater, protects againstdangerouslyexcessivetemperatureand/or pressure build- up inside the water heatm The relief valve automatically opens if the temperature or pressure gets too high to relieve hot water and/or pressureto the drain. To avoid serious safety hazards or damage to the water heater,it is very important to keep the valve ingood working ord_ ONCE EACHYEAR, do the following:

NOTE; If you do not keep the relief valve in good working order, THE WARRANTY IS VOID if the water heater fails

because of high temperature and/or pressure.

1.Be sure no one is standing near the relief valve drain pipe as hot water could splash on them. Also be sure water will flow to the drain point and not damage the surrounding area.

WARNING

WATER FROM THE RELIEF VALVE DRAIN PiPE MAY BE VERY HOT. MAKE SURE NO ONE IS NEAR THE PIPE OR THEY COULD GET BURNED SEVERELY.

2.With your hand on the relief valve handle, open and close the valve 2 or 3 times (FIG. 7, Page 11). The valve should reset and close, stopping water flow from the drain pipe.

Ifyou don'tget any water from the drain pipe, or if water flow does not stop, the valve is bad and a new one is needed.

WARNING

If the temperature and pressure relief valve ever needs replacing, use only a valvespecMedby local codes, but r_t lessthan combination temperature and pressure relief valve certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory that maintains periodic inspection of listed equipment or materials meeting the requirements for Relief Valves and Automatic Gas Shutoff Devices for Hot Water Supply Systems, as specified in the latest edition of ANSI Z21.22. The replacement valve must be marked with a maximum set pressure not to exceed the maximum working pressure of the water heater as indicated on the rating plate. (The relief valve provided with the water heater meets these requirements.)

WARNING

If the temperature and pressure relief valve on the appliance weeps or discharges periodically, this may be due to thermal expansion. (See page 9.) Your water heater may have a check valve installed in the water line or a water meter with a check valve. Consult your local Sears Service Center for further information. Never plug the temperature and pressure relief valve.

TO REPLACETHE TEMPERATURE AND

PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE...

1.Turn off electric power to the water heater.

2.Close the cold water supply pipe shut-off valve to the water heater.

3.Open a nearby hot water faucet and KEEPOPEN.

4.Open the water heater drain valve for about 60 seconds or until the water level is below the temperature and pressure relief valve shaft (fasten a drain hose to the drain valve if needed to direct the water to a suitable drain). Then close the drain valve.

WATER HEATER

WARNING

I

WATER FROM THE DRAIN HOSE MAY BE VERY HOT. BE I SURE NO ONE IS NEAR THE DRAIN HOSE OR THEY r

COULD GET BURNED SEVERELY.

5.Remove the drain pipe from the temperature and pressure relief valve, then remove the old temperature and pressure relief valve (see FIG. 2, Page 6). Use two wrenches, one to hold the hex nut and one to remove the temperature and pressure relief valve. Never use just one wrench.

6.Put pipe thread seal compound on the new replacement valve male threads. Be sure a seat ring is inside the center (RELIEF VALVE) hex union nut. Use factory supplied seal

ring washers only. DO NOT use sealants with seal ring washers. Then turn the valve into the he× union. DO NOT

place any valve between the temperature and pressure relief valve and the tank. Face the relief valve outlet in the direction you will run the drain pipe. Hold the valve in place while you tighten the hex union nut. READTHE "CAUTION"

NOTE FOLLOWING STEP 2 ON PAGE4.

7.Install the drain pipe to the new temperature and pressure relief valve (see Step 5 and FIG. 2 on Page 6).

8.Open the cold water supply valve. When water from the hot faucet runs smooth, with no more air bubbles, close the faucet (see Step 7, Page 6).

CAUTION: Be sure the water heater is completely full of water before turning on electric power.

9.Turn on the electric power.

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' (j_r		Union (see Figure 2,
and Pressure --...		,/.°°6)
Temperature
Relief Valve	' '	LI•

HEATING ELEMENTS

Most water supplies will cause scale or mineral deposits to form on the heating elements. As the scale forms, it gets harder for the elements to heat water. If you hear a rumbling noise coming from the water heater, it'sprobably caused by scale build-up on the elements. Element life can be lengthened with a water softener (and possibly other water treating equipment

._ check with Sears) which removes most of or all the minerals that cause the scale.

To REPLACE A BURNED OUT ELEMENT, do the following.

You can buy new elements from Sears (see FIG. 8 and Pages 14-15). REPLACEMENT ELEMENTS, SOLD IN MOST

HARDWARE STORES, WILL NOT FIT TillS WATER HEATER. AN ELEMENT WRENCH ITEM NUMBER 42-31923 IS ALSO AVAILABLEAT SEARS.